Six Canadian women will be racing in the road events at the 2012 Pan-American Championships in Mar Del Plata, Argentina, this weekend, hoping for great results that will earn Canada some coveted UCI points towards the Olympic qualification process.

Rhae Shaw, currently residing in Seattle, who placed seventh in the Time Trial at the 2011 UCI World Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark, is headlining the crew of Canadian athletes.

She is joined by Denise Ramsden of Yellowknife, Leah Kirchmann of Winnipeg, Karol-Ann Canuel of Amos, Québec, Heather Logan-Sprenger of Madoc, Ontario, and Joanie Caron of Québec City.

Shaw and Ramsden will race both the time trial and the road race. The individual time trial will be held on March 9th (Friday), while the mass-start road race will be on March 11th (Sunday).

Canada did not bring any men to these Pan-American Championships since the Men’s Olympic qualification window is already closed.

Last year at the 2011 Pan-American Championships, Canadian cyclist Clara Hughes won both the road race and the time trial race.